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Rasmus sits with sore neck

2/28/14: Colby Rasmus drives in the first run of the game in the opening inning off Gerrit Cole

By Gregor Chisholm
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MLB.com |

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Colby Rasmus was scratched from the lineup on Sunday afternoon because of a sore neck.

The injury isn't considered serious, and if Sunday's had been a regular-season game, he likely would have played. But with a little less than four weeks remaining until Opening Day, there was no point in pushing the issue and risking a future setback.

Rasmus had been scheduled to play center field and bat seventh against the Yankees but instead received permission to take the day off.

"I feel all right, just woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning," Rasmus said. "I have a little crick in my neck. ... I felt like I needed to take myself out just as a precaution. But in a couple of days, I should be fine."

The injury news for some of the other position players was a little more positive. Edwin Encarnacion and Brett Lawrie were back in the lineup just one day after being scratched because of various ailments.

Lawrie was held out of Saturday afternoon's game against the Orioles because of a tight hamstring. Encarnacion received the past two days off as the Blue Jays took a cautious approach following last September's surgery on his wrist.